Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said at the beginning of this motion here, this motion is to support, to nudge the government on the establishment. It talks about some of the things that we think can be looked at when you start developing this secretariat. Not just two people, maybe 15 people or so. Give you some ideas.

I know you’re going to come back in the future on this secretariat. We don’t know when. Monies are introduced and monies sometimes disappear. We want to put this on the radar for the government, that this is an important enough issue here that it stays within the books with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On January 26, 2012, the Canadian Rangers welcomed its 59th patrol to the Northern Canada Group. Based on their website, the Canadian Rangers are the military eyes and ears in the North, hence their motivation. They’re watchers. There are 163 patrols across Canada. Many are Aboriginal and speak a native language. I want to acknowledge those people who make this a reality in the Northwest Territories and those who encourage them.

The Canadian Rangers provide a vital service to our country. It is important their commitment and dedication is acknowledged by everyone.

Deline...

WHEREAS the Northwest Territories Official Languages Act recognizes nine Aboriginal languages as official languages, including: Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tlicho, in addition to English and French;

AND WHEREAS Section 11 of the Northwest Territories Official Languages Act says, among other things, that any member of the public is entitled to communicate with and receive services from any regional or community Government of the Northwest Territories office in an Aboriginal language spoken in that region or community, where...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5.

---Unanimous consent granted

Some years ago they did a successful screening test in Aklavik. If it takes supplementary funding to get this going, this test will save lives in the Sahtu. Like I said, I heard somebody in Tulita is being treated for this specific cancer-causing bacteria right now. If it takes some money, then let’s get it done and let’s start saving some lives. Will the Minister vigorously investigate in the Sahtu, come back with some numbers and say, yes, we have some in Tulita, Deline or Good Hope or the Wells or Colville and this needs to be looked at? This is a sleeping giant that needs to be looked...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask a question to the Minister of Health and Social Services on the cancer causing bacteria H. pylori and if there are any types of discussions that they are going to do some work in the Sahtu region. I know Aklavik has done this work and now I want to know if some of this work is going to be done in the Sahtu.

Maybe I could help on my end. I can certainly visit the people in the Sahtu and go see the elders who are living in the public housing units. The same with any MLA here when they head back to their ridings. Talk to the elders and ask, is this what you want your government to do, start charging you rent come July 1st? Sit down and talk with them. Hopefully then we can get back to the Minister responsible for Seniors, who will work with your colleagues and say is this what we want to do as a government. I ask the Minister if he would be willing to be open to our feedback once we have our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve talked to the Minister of the Housing Corporation on the plans to charge rent to the elders, and the Minister gave me a significant number of 700 seniors that are going to be impacted and some of the seniors that said it’s okay. I have a hard time believing that of elders in my region. I don’t think it’s going to be okay. I don’t know where the Minister is getting the okay from the seniors. I want to ask the Minister responsible for Seniors how he is working with this government here to be responsible for seniors that the government is now planning to charge rent...

Mr. Speaker, first initial reaction for some of the constituents of mine were saying, what is happening? What is going on? Why are they charging rent now or planning to charge seniors this rent scale? What is the thinking behind these changes to the rent scale for the elders who are going to be paying rent if it all goes through on July 1st?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the mover of this motion, for bringing this issue to the Legislature today, and also for Ms. Bisaro’s enthusiasm and support to get everybody here to talk about this issue.

It not only affects students in Yellowknife. It affects students right across the Northwest Territories, in homes and communities. Like I said, it not only affects students, it affects leaders, families and everybody.

I want to thank the Member for the motion here. In the motion it talks about some recommendations that this government could do to denounce bullying. Mr. Speaker, in my...